Container construction

ABSTRACT

A container construction is provided for containing a product under fluid pressure and such construction comprises a downwardly convex bottom wall having a particular thickness. A side wall adjoins the bottom wall and is defined as an integral part thereof and terminates in a top portion. The side wall has a thickness which is no less than the thickness of the bottom wall and a closure is fixed to the top portion of the side wall to define a closed vessel for containing the product. The container construction has a simple supporting base supporting the vessel in an upright manner and the base is fixed around a lower portion of the side wall.

United States Patent 191 Cvacho CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Daniel S. Cvacho, Chesterfield, Va.

[73] Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company,

Richmond, Va.

22 Filed: Ju1y18,1973 21 Appli No.: 380,313

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 126,434, March 22, 1971,

[58] Field of Search 220/68, 69, 85 K; 215/1 C, 215/12 R;222/183, 184

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,082 9/1916 Stollberg 220/69 1,536,497 5/1925 Horvath 220/69 1,854,352 4/1932 Thomas 222/184 2,837,245 6/1958 Grebowiec 215/1 C 2,847,144 8/1958 Cornelius i 220/69 3,349,940 10/1967 Cornelius i 220/69 3,445,029 5/1969 Zenger 220/54 IOA [4 1 Oct. 1, 1974 Primary Examiner-George F. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [5 7 ABSTRACT A container construction is provided for containing a product under fluid pressure and such construction comprises a downwardly convex bottom wall having a particular thickness. A side wall adjoins the bottom wall and is defined as an integral part thereof and terminates in a top portion. The side wall has a thickness which is no less than the thickness of the bottom wall and a closure is fixed to the top portion of the side wall to define a closed vessel for containing the product. The container construction has a simple supporting base supporting the vessel in an upright manner and the base is fixed around a lower portion of the side wall.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ZOA I3A w-LA CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 126,434, filed Mar. 22, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are numerous containers in current use which are easily held in one hand and are used to contain various products including, for example, carbonated beverages, paint and related products, deoderants, household sprays, and the like, under gaseous pressure. Each of these containers is usually provided with a right circular cylindrical side wall and an adjoining bottom wall which is convex upwardly or inwardly toward the center of the container.

As a general rule, the thickness of the inwardly convex bottom wall of each of these current containers is substantially greater than the thickness of its cylindrical side wall even in those instances where a particular container of the character set forth above is made with its cylindrical side wall and bottom wall as a one piece construction. Such an inwardly convex bottom wall requires a greater thickness because it is in compression whereby the greater thickness is required to withstand internal pressures. Further, it has been found that metal hardness, temper, etc., are much more critical in an inwardly convex bottom wall.

However, the manufacture of containers, such as metal containers, of the character set forth above is a highly competitive industry making it important that a minimum amount of metal be used to reduce the overall cost yet without compromising the structural integrity of the container.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved container construction which is particularly adapted to contain products of the character mentioned above and which is of simple and economical construction and may be manufactured with optimum economy using a minimum amount of structural materials. In particular, such construction comprises a downwardly convex bottom wall having a particular thickness and a side wall adjoining the bottom wall and being defined as an integral part thereof. The side wall has a thickness which is no less than the thickness of the bottom wall and has a closure fixed to a top portion of the side wall to define a closed vessel adapted to contain a product under fluid pres sure. The container construction has a simple supporting base supporting the vessel in an upright manner and the base is fixed around a lower portion of the side wall.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as'the following description of the exemplary embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawing proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which' FIG. I is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the container construction of this inven tion;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the empty container construction of FIG. 1, with the lower portion thereof broken away and illustrated in cross section and with the upper portion of such container construction shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a container construction which is similar to the construction of FIGS. l and 2 and provided with a modified form of a supporting base;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating another embodiment of a container construction;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating still another embodiment of a container construction; and

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary portion of the container construction of FIG. 2 illustrating adhesive means for fixing a supporting base against the lower portion of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a con tainer construction of this invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and is in the form of a lightweight construction of such a size that it may be easily grasped and held in one hand. The container construction 10 of this example is particularly adapted to contain a carbonated beverage 11 under gaseous pressure.

The container construction .10 comprises an elongated closed tubular container 12 which may be manufactured in any manner known in the art to define a pressure vessel and has a base 13 fixed thereto. The container 12 may be made of a metallic material such as an aluminum alloy and the base is preferably made of a non-metallic material such as hard plastic, for example. The base 13 is in the form of a ring or openended tubular construction.

As seen particularly in FIG. 2 of the drawing. the container 12 has a downwardly convex bottom wall 14 which has a particular minimum thickness indicated at 15 which is determined by the product, the carbonated beverage 11 in this example, which is to be contained in the container 12 and the maximum pressure which is likely to be exerted by such product. The container 12 has a cylindrical side wall which has a substantially right circular cylindrical main or central portion 16, an upper or top portion 17, and a cylindrical lower or bottom portion 20.

The cylindrical bottom portion 20 adjoins the bottom wall 14 along an annular arcuate: portion 21 having a smooth radius and providing a smooth transition between the bottom portion 20 and bottom wall 14. The bottom portion 20 also has a right circular cylindrical configuration and a diameter which is smaller than the substantially constant diameter of the central portion 16.

The side wall of container 12 which is comprised of portions 16, 17, and 20 is defined as an integral part of 8 the bottom wall 14 and has a thickness, indicated at 22,

which is no less than the thickness indicated at 15 of the bottom wall 14. Preferably, the bottom wall 14 and side wall of container 12 with its component portions 16, 17, and 20 is formed as a single piece construction and the thickness 22 of such side wall is substantially uniform throughout the entire side wall.

The container 12 has a typical closure 23 which is fixed to the top portion 17 in any conventional manner known in the art to thereby define a closed pressure vessel capable of containing the carbonated beverage 11. The closure 23 has a tear strip 24 defined therein by a closed loop score line 25 and has a pull device or ring 26 fixed to the tear strip 24 in accordance with conventional practice for removing the tear strip 24 to define an opening for dispensing the carbonated beverage from within the container 12 of the container construction 10.

The supporting base 13 has a tubular portion 30 which has a right circular cylindrical inside surface 31 which has a slightly larger diameter than the outside diameter of the bottom portion 20 and the base 13 also has a top annular surface 32. The bottom portion 20 is inserted substantially in nested relation within the base 13 and suitable means employed for fixing the tubular portion 30 concentrically around the bottom portion 20 to thereby provide a support for holding the container 12 with its longitudinal axis substantially in an upright or vertical position.

As previously indicated, the lower portion 20 has a diameter and, hence, a cross-sectional area which is less than the diameter and corresponding crosssectional area of the main central portion 16 whereby an annular ledge 33 is defined between the central portion 16 and the lower portion 20. The annular ledge 33 engages and rests upon the top annular surface 32 of the supporting base 13 whereby surface 32 helps support the container 12 in an upright manner.

Any suitable means may be provided for fixing the supporting base 13 to lower portion 20 of the cylindrical side wall of container 12. For example, the base 13 may be pressed or wedged in position and held, in essence, by friction. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing, adhesive means in the form of a suitable adhesive 34 may be provided between the lower portion 20 and the inside surface 31 of the base 13 whereupon with the use of adhesive 34 theoutside diameter of the cylindrical lower portion 20 is dimensioned to allow a layer of such adhesive to be interposed between the base 13 and the reduced diameter cylindrical lower portion 20 of container 12.

Other exemplary embodiments of the container construction of this invention are illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The container constructions illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and are very similar to the container construction 20; therefore, these container constructions will be designated generally by the reference numerals A, 10B, and 10C for the constructions of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 respectively and parts of each container construction which are very similar to corresponding parts of construction 10 will be designated by the same reference numeral as in the construction 10 followed by an associated letter designation, either A, B, or C and not described again. Only those component parts of each container construction which are different from corresponding parts of the container construction 10 will be designated by a new reference numeral also followed by an associated letter designation and described in detail.

The main difference between the container construction 10A and the construction 10 is in the base 13A. The base 13A, instead of being in the form of a ring, is cup-shaped and comprises a tubular portion 30A adjoined by an integral base 34A.

The container construction 10B illustrated in FIG. 4 has a side wall in which the bottom portion thereof has a substantially frustoconical configuration which is designated by the reference numeral 353. The large diameter portion 368 of frustoconical portion 353 adjoins the annular ledge 33B and such ledge serves as a smooth transition section between the main right circular cylindrical side wall portion 168 andfrustoconical portion 358.

The base 138 is in the form of a ring and has a substantially frustoconical inside surface 37B. The dimensions of the frustoconical surface 373 correspond to the outside dimensions of the frustoconical portion 358 thereby allowing portion 35B to be nested within surface 378 and fixed to the base 138 either by being wedged thereagainst and held by friction or by using a suitable adhesive between portion 358 and base 138.

The container construction 10C illustrated in FIG. 5 also has a substantially frustoconical portion adjoining its annular ledge 33C and such frustoconical portion is designated by the reference numeral 40C and has a small diameter portion 43C adjoining the annular ledge 33C. In addition, the base 13C is in the form of a ringlike member and also has a downwardly diverging frustoconical inside surface 41C which corresponds in configuration to the outside frustoconical surface 42C of frustoconical portion 40C. The base 13C is thus held firmly in position by the cooperating tapered surfaces 41C and 42C.

Each container construction 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C has an associated container in the form of a closed vessel for containing an associated product such as a carbonated beverage, for example, and each container has a side wall of right circular cylindrical configuration. In addition, each supporting base 13, 13A, 13B, and 13C also has a corresponding right circular cylindrical configuration and the maximum outside diameter of each base is either equal to or less than the maximum diameter of the side wall of its associated container construction whereby a plurality of container constructions l0 and 10A-C may be placed in adjoining side-by-side relation with only the main portion of their side walls in contact.

It will also be appreciated that each container construction of this invention may have any suitable noncircular cross-sectional configuration in which case the peripheral outline of the outside surface of its associated supporting base is also generally within the confines of the side wall of an associated container. Thus, irrespective of the cross-sectional configuration of each container construction, a plurality of such containers may be placed in adjoining side-by-side relation with only the central main portions of their side walls in contact.

The containers 12, 12A, 12B, and 12C are preferably made as a single piece unit comprised of a downwardly convex bottom wall and a side wall defined by a main central portion, a bottom or lower portion, and an upper portion. Preferably, in making such a single piece container using an aluminum alloy such as 3003- H-19, a flat circular blank is used and the container is formed by an initial drawing action followed by a redrawing and ironing operation.

Each of the containers 12, 12A, 12B, and 12C made in accordance with this invention has a side wall having a thickness which is equal to or greater than, i.e., no less than, the thickness of the bottom wall. Preferably and usually the bottom wall has a thickness which is less than the thickness of the side wall and a typical container used to contain 12 ounces of carbonated beverage and made of 3003-l-l-l9 may have a bottom wall ranging in thickness between 0.0035 0.0058 inch whereby the associated side wall would also have a thickness ranging between 0.0035 0.0058 inch, but in no instance would the side wall thickness be smaller than the bottom wall thickness.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A light weight easily handheld container construction for containing a product under pressure, said con struction comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a thickness, a side wall adjoining said bottorn wall as an integral part thereof and terminating in a top portion, said side wall having a thickness which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said bottom wall with its integral side wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wall being self-supporting and thus free of additional support means, a tubular base for supporting said vessel in an upright manner, said base having a tubular inside surface, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around the lower portion of said side wall, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container.

2. A container construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said side wall has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said bottom wall.

3. A container construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said side wall comprises a lower portion having a cross-sectional area which is less than the crosssectional area of a main central portion thereof to thereby define an annular ledge between said main portion and said lower portion, said base comprises a a top annular surface which receives said annular ledge thereagainst, and said base has an outside surface which is substantially within the confines of said main central portion.

4. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said fixing means comprises friction means.

5. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said fixing means comprises adhesive means.

6. In combination: a light weight easily hand-held container for containing a product under pressure and a supporting base fixed to said container; said container comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a particular thickness, a cylindrical side wall, said side wall having a substantially constant diameter main portion, a top portion provided with an opening, and a lower portion adjoining said bottom wall and having a maximum diameter which is smaller than said constant diameter, said side wall being defined as an integral part of said bottom wall and having a thickness throughout which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said side wall and bottom wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wall being selfsupporting and thus free of additional support means, said base having a tubular inside surface, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around said lower portion and holding said container with its longitudinal axis substantially upright, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said side wall of said container has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said bottom wall.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said container has an annular ledge defined between said main portion and said lower portion of its side wall and said base has a top annular surface which receives said annular ledge thereagainst, said base having an outside diameter which is no greater than said constant diameter.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said lower portion of said side wall comprises a substantially frustoconical portion having a small diameter end and a large diameter end.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said frustoconical lower portion has its large diameter end adjoining said ledge.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said frustoconical lower portion has its small diameter end adjoining said ledge.

12. A light weight easily hand held container construction for containing a product under pressure, said construction comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a thickness, a side wall adjoining said bottom wall as an integral part thereof and terminating in a top portion, said side wall having a thickness which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said bottom wall with its integral side wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wall being self supporting and thus free of additional support means, a tubular base for supporting said vessel in an upright manner, said base being made of a non-metallic material and having a tubular inside surface, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around the lower portion of said side wall, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container. 

1. A light weight easily handheld container construction for containing a product under pressure, said construction comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a thickness, a side wall adjoining said bottom wall as an integral part thereof and terminating in a top portion, said side wall having a thickness which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said bottom wall with its integral side wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wall being self-supporting and thus free of additional support means, a tubular base for supporting said vessel in an upright manner, said base having a tubular inside surFace, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around the lower portion of said side wall, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container.
 2. A container construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said side wall has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said bottom wall.
 3. A container construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said side wall comprises a lower portion having a cross-sectional area which is less than the cross-sectional area of a main central portion thereof to thereby define an annular ledge between said main portion and said lower portion, said base comprises a a top annular surface which receives said annular ledge thereagainst, and said base has an outside surface which is substantially within the confines of said main central portion.
 4. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said fixing means comprises friction means.
 5. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said fixing means comprises adhesive means.
 6. In combination: a light weight easily hand-held container for containing a product under pressure and a supporting base fixed to said container; said container comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a particular thickness, a cylindrical side wall, said side wall having a substantially constant diameter main portion, a top portion provided with an opening, and a lower portion adjoining said bottom wall and having a maximum diameter which is smaller than said constant diameter, said side wall being defined as an integral part of said bottom wall and having a thickness throughout which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said side wall and bottom wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wall being self-supporting and thus free of additional support means, said base having a tubular inside surface, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around said lower portion and holding said container with its longitudinal axis substantially upright, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said side wall of said container has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said bottom wall.
 8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said container has an annular ledge defined between said main portion and said lower portion of its side wall and said base has a top annular surface which receives said annular ledge thereagainst, said base having an outside diameter which is no greater than said constant diameter.
 9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said lower portion of said side wall comprises a substantially frustoconical portion having a small diameter end and a large diameter end.
 10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said frustoconical lower portion has its large diameter end adjoining said ledge.
 11. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said frustoconical lower portion has its small diameter end adjoining said ledge.
 12. A light weight easily hand-held container construction for containing a product under pressure, said construction comprising, a downwardly convex bottom wall having a thickness, a side wall adjoining said bottom wall as an integral part thereof and terminating in a top portion, said side wall having a thickness which is no less than the thickness of said bottom wall, said bottom wall with its integral side wall being made of a single piece of metallic material capable of being drawn and ironed, said bottom wAll being self supporting and thus free of additional support means, a tubular base for supporting said vessel in an upright manner, said base being made of a non-metallic material and having a tubular inside surface, and means fixing said tubular inside surface around the lower portion of said side wall, said bottom wall being downwardly convex enabling it to be of comparatively small thickness even though it is free of said additional support means with a resultant savings in said metallic material yet without impairing the structural integrity of said container. 